The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-21
WHAT DID THE DOG SEE2
a Strange but Observation-Disclosures In
stance of Canine Second Sight.
From Chambers Journal.


From Chambers Journal.
1t has often been said that animals have as
keen perception and as quick an apprecia-
ton as man himself of anything out of the us
ual order of things, or partakng in any way of
a preternatural character Whether the whole
animal creation are endowed with this singular
sagacity it is impossible to say, and would be
equally impossible to prove; but as regards
dogs and horses at any rate-n we are to be-
lieye the many stories which have been related
on the very best authorities-it is certain that
those animals have been the first to recognize
and to testify by their fright and terror the
force of such recognition-that they are in the
presence of something beyond their KEN and
the next step Is, with true animal Sagacity, to
seek safety in flight with the'usual acconpani-
ment of scared looks, dropped tails and ears,
and dropped heads.
In the following curious narrative remarkable
instance is given of dog having evidently seen
something not seen by either his master or mis-
treSs, which evidently at first caused him great
delight, but which, on closer investigation turn
ed out TO be empty space, and produced IN the
dog all the signs of abject fear. The peculiar
circumstances of the story, which were related
to the writer by friend, whose word he can
have reason to doubt, are simply these:
A young lady Miss F., was on a visit to
O family of name aud position, Col and Mrs
O., who occupied large mansion in one OF
the home counties. They possessed favorite
setter, pet of everybodys, but especially OF
Miss F, who was as fond of the dog as the
dog was of her. Wherever Miss F went,
walking driving or riding Flora was sure to be
close at hand And in the drawing room the
dog would sit by Miss F-'S side, lay her long,
white nose on the lady's knee, and look up earn
estly in her face, making that peculiar sort of
snoring in the nose which pet dogs often at
tempt either to attract attention or to express
love. If, however, Flora was accidentally shut
out from any room in which Miss F hap
pened to be she would scratch at the door and
whine and cry in pitiful manner until the door
was opened.
Miss F had been staying with Col. and Mrs
C about three or four weeks, when she be-
came suddenly i'll, and determined to return
without delay to her home in the adjoining
county. Thither she was removed in an invalid
carriage; but, although she received every pos
sible care and attention, she appeared to get no
better; her malady was evidently increasing
daily.
About month after Miss F. had left Col
G--'s house, he and his wife were one day in
their morning room, which looked out upon an
village church had begun to ring for the usual
daily mathis, the time being 9:45, and the Colo
mel and his wife were preparing. to
custom, when they observed Flora
who was lying apparently asleep, close to the
open glass doors leading to the lawn--raised her
head quickly and, with cooked ears and strained
eyes, looked intently down the lawn, as if she
saw something there which attracted her atten-
ton. All at once she jumped up, bounded over
the grass, and commenced leaping up two or
tense canine joy usually exhibited in meeting,
after an absence, some specially loved object.
In moment, however, the dog ceased her ges-
| lures, dropped her tail and head, manifesting
| every sign of abject fear, and, turning round,
rushed back to the house. into the room, and
crawled under the sofa, whence neither calling
nor coaxing on the part of Mrs. c. could in
duce her to stir
This peculiar conduct on the part of Flora,
who was remarkable for her high training and
| perfect obedience, surprised and peyplexed both
the Colonel and his wife quite as much as the
violent manifestations of joy, followed imme-
| diately by every sign of the most crouching
| terror, all of which were wholly unaccountable.
| About two hours later in the day telegram
was received by Mrs. c. containing the sad
and unexpected intelligence of the death of Miss
F. at 9:45 that morning.
1t may fairly be asked what could have caused
| the dog suddenly to start up and rush down the
| lawn with all the outward demonstrations of in
| tense joy usually exhibited ON seeing and meet
| ing a loved friend? Flora, without doubt must
have seen something, or fancied she saw some
| thing, though invisible to the eyes of man; but,
| finding it had no tangible substance, her canine
| instincts told her that it was unnatural and un-
| usual, and hence fear took the place of joy, and
| she sought refuge in fight. That the object of
| these tokens of love on the part of the dog
should have passed to her rest at the indentical
| moment they were exhibited by the faithful and
attached Flora, is coincidence regarding which
we will not pretend to offer an opinion.